The move has infuriated the Tamar Tigers who admit they breached a rule but feel it is unduly harsh and are angry they have no cause for appeal.

Hayden Thompson and Zac Cooke both featured in Beauty Point’s 86-run win at Hadspen Oval, but fall short of the league’s eligibility criteria which states that a player is required to play 50 per cent of roster matches, plus one.

TCL executives met on Monday and have deemed the final a forfeit on Beauty Point’s behalf and handed victory to Hadspen, who will now play Cressy in this weekend’s preliminary final. 

League president Darrel Whyte said all records, including Tigers batsman Jason Savage’s century and Chieftains captain Liam Reynolds’ 5-8, will be annulled.

Whyte said the committee was left with little choice having only last week imposed the same penalty, for the same offence, on Beaconsfield’s B-grade outfit.

“We’re there to enforce the rules and if you break those rules you suffer the consequences,” Whyte said.

“We did it for Beaconsfield last week and have got to be consistent. We have told them what’s happening and that’s the end of story.”

However, Savage – after whom the league best and fairest medal is named – said the rule was too restrictive and the judgement has left him devastated.

“It’s our fault because it’s there in black and white, we missed it and should have picked it up,” he said.

“But it’s not like we are trying to rort the system and I’m disgusted by the decision.”

Savage said his side played 12 40-over games and six T20s, therefore requiring players to have 10 appearances to be eligible, but Thompson and Cooke had both only played nine.

“That’s a helluva lot of games to be played. This is something I’ve aired for 10 years that the number of games to qualify for finals is far too many.

“We have people working or with families that know they can’t commit to that many games so don’t play at all.

“Every second week Hayden goes to watch his kids play sport and Zac played every game he was available.

“We’d like a chance to appeal and state our case but have not been given that opportunity. We’ve got no choice but to accept it because there are no grounds to appeal. We’ve asked for a hearing but have been told no correspondence will be allowed.

“At least if we had gone to that meeting we’d have had a chance to put our case.”

President Chris Rundle said the club was furious with its treatment and planned to boycott the TCL dinner.

Longford is already through to the grand final in a fortnight with the preliminary final to be played at Cressy Oval on Saturday, from noon.